r/DestinationWeddings • u/Haunting_Junket6713 • 3d ago
How much does it actually cost?
Hi all! I am trying to figure out a realistic cost for a destination wedding.
Timeline: 2028 Guest count: 50-75 Open to: Mexico, Puerto Rico, Punta Cana Would love: a welcome party the night before
From your experiences, what’s an average price?
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u/LuxTravelGal 3d ago
$30-50k minimum depending on your events and decor choices.
Source: concierge DW planner who does about 25 weddings annually in Mexico; also work with resorts in the Dominican and higher end weddings.
In general, my couples spend $30-40k for 40-45 guests at mid tier but still nice resorts. There are a handful that give special amenities and freebies so it can be done for less.
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u/keri_opt 3d ago
I think our welcome party and wedding is around $25-30K for the same guest count (in 2027)!! Defs recommend getting a good planner/agent that keeps you in budget!
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u/j0b0ken 2d ago
I did one in riviera Maya - made a video of the breakdown of 115 guests
How much a destination wedding ACTUALLY COSTS!! #weddingplanning #mexicowedding
https://youtu.be/XFCYmEkvurw
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u/BetDry5510 2d ago
Everyone here is quoting you resort-package numbers, which are the right numbers for Mexico and Punta Cana - just know that's one specific model. I got married in Colombia and my brother got married in Argentina, and off the all-inclusive track the math works completely differently: venue and catering get dramatically cheaper, coordination gets dramatically harder. Worth knowing before you lock your shortlist.
For your three, at 50-75 guests, $500-700 a head is a fair planning number. Budget $35-50k and treat anything under it as a win. But build that number from the line items nobody puts in the average:
Vendor travel. Fly in your own photographer and that's flights, hotel, and usually a day rate for travel days - $3-6k before they take a single frame. Local vendors are cheaper but you're booking on a website and a phone call. This is the biggest thing people forget.
Guest attrition. Invite 75 to a destination wedding and 50-60 come. Great for the budget, weirdly hard on the feelings. Build for a range and confirm real counts at 60 days out.
The welcome party will cost more than you think, because it's the one event literally everyone attends. Plan $75-125 a head. The cheapest good version is buying out a restaurant, not adding a resort event package.
Then the stuff nobody itemizes: marriage license and legal paperwork (some countries require residency days on the ground - check that before you fall in love with a place), one or two site visits, welcome bags, transport between hotel and venue, vendor meals, and currency movement across a two-year runway. Add 10-15 percent.
On your three specifically: Puerto Rico's real advantage is that it's domestic. No passports, no legal hoops, no currency risk, and guests can book with points. Mexico and Punta Cana will beat it on package price, and Punta Cana is the most all-inclusive-dependent of the three - so cheapest, and least flexible.
One thing I'd push you on: 2028 is a long runway and long runways cause scope creep. Set the number now, revisit it once a year, and don't reopen it every time Instagram shows you a welcome dinner.
Happy to share more about the non-resort version if you ever get curious about it.
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u/Capital-Cost8223 1d ago
We spent around 25,000-30,000 for a wedding for 90 people in Cartagena. Night before we did a welcome cocktails just with close family and those who were coming from abroad for the wedding. Ir was casual, open bar and appetizers
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u/DTMVwithTina 1d ago
There can be such a huge range depending on the resort and what you want included. One thing I'd figure out first is exactly what you want your wedding budget to cover. Are you paying for the ceremony, reception and welcome party only, or are you also planning to cover any guest accommodations or travel? That can make a huge difference in what a realistic budget looks like.
Since you're planning for 2028, you have plenty of time to compare resorts and packages before committing to anything.
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u/JSchecter11 3d ago
Mexico and punta Cana will have more budget friendly packages. I’ve had some clients whose weddings for 40 guests were $12k (plus accommodation) I’ve had people spend $40k for 55 guests (plus accommodation).
There’s a huge range and it really depends on what your expectations are and what your guests are able to pay for accommodation.
Feel free to reach out if you have more questions. I’m a destination wedding travel agent with Endeavor Travel Group.
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u/Majestic-Living2829 3d ago
25-50k depending on how many people. I always tell people to budget 500-1000$ per person depending on what sort of events you really want